Areas we recommend you apply to use a drone

Introduction

Areas on public conservation land where DOC has assessed the effects of using a drone. If you want to fly a drone we recommend you apply at one of these locations.

All drone concession applications are considered on a case by case basis. A number of factors must be taken into account, including:

  • the views of whānau, hapū, and iwi on drone use at that location
  • the effects on conservation values, (influenced by things like the size of the drone and the frequency with which you want to fly it)
  • policies and provisions in the relevant conservation management strategy or conservation management plan. 

There are some places on public conservation land where DOC has assessed the effects of using a drone. If you want to fly a drone we recommend you apply at one of the areas listed below. Due to the case by case assessment required, note there is no guarantee that any application to use a drone at one of the below locations will be approved.

Include the location name/s you are applying for in your application as listed below. Recommended locations forms are available for the Marlborough, West Coast, Canterbury, and Otago regions. See recreational drone use application for more information.

If there is somewhere you would like to fly your drone that is not listed below you can still apply to use a drone at that location. We recommend you contact the local DOC office for advice before submitting your application. 

For information about using a drone in a national park, see Drone use in national parks.

North Island

There are no specific conservation areas in the North Island we specifically recommend you apply to fly a drone.

If you want to use a drone in the North Island, we recommend you talk to the local DOC office to discuss where you want to fly a drone.

South Island

Marlborough

  • Marlborough Sounds campgrounds (we recommend applying to use a drone at these locations between March and November only):
    • Aussie Bay Campground (Momorangi Bay Recreation Reserve)
    • Moetapu Bay Campsite (Mount Cawte Scenic Reserve)
    • Nikau Cove/Picnic Bay (Sounds Foreshore Reserve)
    • Kenepuru Head Campsite (Kenepuru Esplanade Reserve)
    • Ferndale Campsite (Ferndale Scenic Reserve)
    • Butchers Flat Campsite (Wakamarina River Conservation area)
    • Moawhitu Campsite (D’Urville Island Scenic Reserve)
    • Cowshed Bay (Portage Bay Recreation Reserve)
  • Marlborough Sounds tracks:
    • Nydia track
    • Mt Stokes track
    • Wakamarina track
    • Doom track
    • Waikakaho/Cullen Creek track
    • Catherine Cove track
    • Ferndale tracks
    • Piwakawaka tracks
    • Putanui Point track
    • Jacob's Bay track
    • Opouri Bridle track
    • Archer's track
    • Stone Wharf track
    • Stone Huts track
  • Mt Richmond Forest Park
  • Ngakuta Bay Recreation Reserve (we recommend applying to use a drone at this location between March and November only)
  • Nydia Bay Recreation Reserve (we recommend applying to use a drone at this location between March and November only)
  • Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve (excluding the Pelorus Bridge (Kahikatea Flat) Campground. We recommend applying to use a drone at this location between March and November only)
  • Queen Charlotte Track (we recommend applying to use a drone at this location between March and November only)
  • Ship Cove Historic Reserve (we recommend applying to use a drone at this location between March and November only)

West Coast

  • Big River Track
  • Buller Gorge
  • Carew Falls track and waterfall
  • Charleston
  • Clarke Bluff (confluence of Haast and Landsborough rivers)
  • Coal Creek track and waterfall
  • Gillespies Beach
  • Hapuka Estuary
  • Kirwans Track
  • Lake Ellery
  • Londonderry Rock (in Dillmanstown)
  • Moeraki River Valley – Blue River Hut (Blowfly Hut)
  • Pleasant Flat Recreation Reserve
  • Roaring Billy Falls
  • Ross Goldfields (historic reserve located near Donoghues Road, Ross - West Coast)
  • Smoothwater
  • Waiuta historic town
  • Woods Creek track

Canterbury

  • Bealey Spur Conservation Area
  • Bealey/Waimakariri Riverbed Conservation Area
  • Blue Mountain Conservation Area
  • Cass Valley Conservation Area
  • Chetwyn Conservation Area
  • Cheddar Valley Conservation Area
  • Conservation Area Ashley Riverbed Rakahuri
  • Craigieburn Forest Park
  • Four Peaks Conservation Area 
  • German Creek Marginal Strip
  • Hakatere Conservation Park
  • Hanmer Field Base and Picnic Area Conservation Area
  • Hanmer Forest Park
  • Head of Lake Sumner Conservation Area
  • Island Hills Conservation Area
  • Korowai/Torlesse Tussocklands Park
  • Lake Lyndon Marginal Strip
  • Lake Sumner Forest Park
  • Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve
  • Lochiel Conservation Area (contact the Rangiora Office to discuss which parts of Lochiel Conservation Area we recommend you apply for)
  • Lochinvar Forest Conservation Area
  • Lower Doubtful/Boyle River Conservation Area
  • Lottery Bush Scenic Reserve
  • Mason Waiau Riverbeds Conservation Area
  • Mt Peel/Waikari Hills Conservation Area
  • Mt Potts Conservation Area (excluding the top of Mt Sunday – private land)
  • Mt Grey/Maukatere Conservation Area
  • Mt Horrible Conservation Area
  • Mt Hutt Conservation Area (excluding Mt Hutt ski field)
  • Mt Dobson Conservation Area – Te Kahui Kapeka Conservation Park (excluding Mt Dobson ski field) 
  • Nina Doubtful Rivers Conservation Area
  • North Opuha Conservation Area
  • Peak Hill Conservation Area
  • Puketeraki Forest Conservation Area
  • Rangitata/Rakaia Headwaters Conservation Area
  • Recreation Reserve Waiau
  • Rockwood Conservation Area
  • Snowden Scenic Reserve
  • South Opuha Conservation Area
  • St James Conservation Area (excluding the area north of Lake Guyon. Contact the Rangiora Office to discuss which parts of St James Conservation Area we recommend you apply for)
  • Tenahaun Conservation Area
  • Terako Downs Scenic Reserve
  • The Hossack Conservation Area (contact the Rangirora Office to discuss which parts of the Hossack Conservation Area we recommend you apply for)
  • The Poplars Conservation Area
  • Waiareka Downs Conservation Area
  • Wairangi Scenic Reserve
  • Wandle Bush Conservation Area
  • Woodbank Conservation Area

Otago

  • Flat Top Hill Area – Alexandra
  • Glenorchy Road Recreation Reserve – Queenstown (We recommend applying for the Twenty Five Mile Recreation Reserve and the pull-off area opposite Pigeon Island only)
  • The Wisp
  • Trotters Block / Pigeon Bush Conservation Area
  • Trotters Gorge Scenic Reserve
  • Twenty-Five Mile Recreation Reserve
  • Careys Creek Conservation Area
  • Otago Pioneer Quartz (OPQ) Conservation Area
  • Pioneer Stream Historic Reserve
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